miatadan Posted May 5, 2014 Share #1 Posted May 5, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Has anyone here go back to film after using digital cameras. Biggest problem for me is sending out film (out of town ) to be processed. Digital M and M-E to expensive for me but could manage price of Summarit 35mm f/2.5 + Bessa R4M... Am I crazy to consider this? Dan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Hi miatadan, Take a look here Go from digital and back to film?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Stealth3kpl Posted May 5, 2014 Share #2 Posted May 5, 2014 No you're not crazy. For those of us who want to use a rangefinder but don't want the expense or inconvenience of having to post process lots of raw files (inconvenient for me, before all you digital file lovers start banging on about how you love to process 80 files on returning from holiday) or put up with the idiosyncrasies of the M8/M9/and to a lesser extent, the M, there is no alternative to film. Film is an excellent medium. I believe it was around for quite a few years before digital arrived . I have four film Ms, and the Voigtlander R4A (electronic version of the R4M). The voigt is an excellent camera, and light weight with an excellent viewfinder for wider lenses. 21mm no less! No need for external finder. As you say, you may need to send out to develop colour film, but black and white is very easy to develop and scan, though that removes some of the convenience compared to processing digital RAW files (which I appreciate some people enjoy). I went to M9s from film Ms then back to the film Ms. I prefer their form-factor and their use. I usually prefer their output but there are times where I feel digital may be better e.g. landscapes. Not always though. Get the Voigtlander. If in a year's time it's not working out, get an M9. It will be cheaper at that time anyway. Incidently, I really like the back and white output of the M8/M8.2. That may be worth considering. Pete 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
miatadan Posted May 5, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted May 5, 2014 Thanks Pete I used film from the 1970's until my first digital camera ( Nikon D50 ) My first camera when I was 16 was a Pentax K1000.... Thinking if I purchase Bessa R4M or used M body, will get practice using rangefinder)))) Dan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eckart Posted May 5, 2014 Share #4 Posted May 5, 2014 I still have digital cameras, such as a M8, D-Lux 5 and a DSLR, but I am using more and more film in my Leicas (M6-M2-IIICsync.), my Hasselblads and even with my Nikon F2sp. I think it is about 80 to 20% for using film. With film you are more slowly, more exact and I feel like shooting with more awareness, I do one shot instead of ten... With digital you are always looking what you have done by checking the display, you are in the past in a way, by shooting with film you have to have the feeling by shooting if you have got it or not you have to see the moment in the moment. I love to use digital cams for quick shots like family or as memories on work, but if I want to shoot a picture with is important or at least feels important to me I am using for shure a BW-film. Developing of films are not this high science you might think and it is thrilling to see your wet negatives the first time before you hang them to dry, believe me;) 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted May 5, 2014 Share #5 Posted May 5, 2014 Honestly, Dan, I came from Nikon D70, D2HS, D2X, D200, D300 then D700, with all manner of zooms and primes culminating in the 3 pro zooms 14-24/2.8, 24-70/2.8 and 70-200/2.8. I've never looked back since returning to small film cameras. Now-a-days I'm completely at home wandering around with just a small 35mm/2 on my M2 or MP. It's bliss. I don't feel I need those extreme wides or teles, and photography is fun once again. Admittedly, I've gone over the top buying Leica lenses but that's simply because I'm an idiot, not based on any real need. Pete 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
miatadan Posted May 6, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted May 6, 2014 Thanks for the responses )))) I have decided to sell the X-Vario ( at a loss, less than half I paid for it ) Will purchase Bessa R4M and Leica Summarit 35mm f/2.5 or Leica Elmarit 28mm f/2.8... Chose the Bessa R4M as it is designed for wide lenses and to learn taking photos with rangefinder. did some research and found place to mail in film to get it processed - Toronto 4 hours away from Sudbury film affordable from amazon.ca when budget allows, get Leica M body Dan 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlindstrom Posted May 6, 2014 Share #7 Posted May 6, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Of wides aren't THE most important feature, then for a killer Bessa experience I would rather suggest R3m + the excellent voigtlander 40/1.4 lens. The R3m (and R3a) are the only Bessas with framelines for 40mm and it's viewfinder is 1:1 size. It's fabulous! It is the "poor man's Leica M3" with added benefits of easier film loading and built-in metering. It also has the longest effective rf baselength of all bessa's which makes it a bit more accurate in focusing, though not still in Leica category. And that 40/1.4 is a great little lense. As a comvo it would also be a little cheaper than the R4m and Leica lense. Especially if you're planning buying new.. //Juha Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton C Posted May 6, 2014 Share #8 Posted May 6, 2014 Ahhh the Pentax K1000. I've returned to film, last summer getting my first rangefinder, M3, and then an R4. I'm in love with photography again. I was longing for full manual control, and the . . . Filminess of film. Anticipation in awaiting development is part of the fun. I take careful notes of settings and anything salient, in the hopes of improving my technique. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted May 6, 2014 Share #9 Posted May 6, 2014 Hi Dan, I agree with Pete The film has a "soul", non-flat image Image has no cut edges with a scalpel, Image not synthesis due to the grain (film vs pixels) Enlarged image on "silver" paper, rather an image on printer "inkjet" Joy of taking pictures thinking before shooting (not inflation shooting) Joy waiting to develop b&w film at home Joy to see its picture (enlarged by his enlarger) framed with a nice margin , hang nicely, in his office Best Henry Someone who has used 4 years of digital M Demonstration : http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/other/286747-i-like-film-open-thread.html 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted May 6, 2014 Share #10 Posted May 6, 2014 ....and like Hi Fi for the sound with "vacuum" and vinyl record , picture with "soul and grain" Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Best Henry 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Best Henry ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/226592-go-from-digital-and-back-to-film/?do=findComment&comment=2584090'>More sharing options...
plasticman Posted May 6, 2014 Share #11 Posted May 6, 2014 Agree with everything that's already been said. I went 97% film during the last 4 or 5 years, having always used digital cameras before (apart from borrowing my dad's OM1 when I was at university). With my first digital cam (a Canon p&s) I was very proud of myself to shoot 5000+ images in the first month. Needless to say I have no idea which disk those images are on now - if I even have them at all(?) and judging by what I see online, that number probably seems quite modest these days. I enjoy photography WAY more using film now, and the discipline and zen-ness of shooting with film cameras has vastly improved my results. I also find I'm no longer immersed in the chimping cycle - shoot-shoot-chimp-delete-shoot-chimp-shoot-shoot-chimp-delete - which was my habit when out with a digital camera, and now I simply wait for the right moment to take a shot, and I'm otherwise focussed on my surroundings and the people around me. I was going to link to some impressive examples of people using C-41 home development kits (for color - which is my own interest) on Flickr, but their search function is down (surprise). Anyway, hope you enjoy coming (back?) to film - it's been a blast for me. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsgary Posted May 6, 2014 Share #12 Posted May 6, 2014 I gave up totally on digital about 3 years ago and shot only film until about 3 weeks ago and bought a Sony A7 to use my M mount lenses but film is still the love of my life but i have not shot any film for the last 2 weeks because my partner has just been through a very big operation but as soon as i can i will be shooting about 80% film 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StS Posted May 6, 2014 Share #13 Posted May 6, 2014 Well yes, I bought a D70 in 2004 and stayed completely digital until 2007. No regrets, this was an excellent way of improving my photography, the instant feedback helps a lot. In 2007, I bought an M3, it quickly became my main camera, now mainly unburdened by more contemporary descendants. Apologies, I wrote this before, with film I get the look I like out of the box, with little post-processing, which I enjoy much less compared to photography. Stefan 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rome Posted May 6, 2014 Share #14 Posted May 6, 2014 Well yes, I bought a D70 in 2004 and stayed completely digital until 2007. No regrets, this was an excellent way of improving my photography, the instant feedback helps a lot. In 2007, I bought an M3, it quickly became my main camera, now mainly unburdened by more contemporary descendants. Apologies, I wrote this before, with film I get the look I like out of the box, with little post-processing, which I enjoy much less compared to photography. Stefan Have gone to a film camera after some years using a Richo GX200,great little camera. To get into film the first camera i bought was a COSINA 107-SW plus a voigtlander 15mm f4.5 heliar ,next i bought was a Bessa R2M with Jupiter 3 50mm lense then got Yes a Leica m2 with 50mm Elmar lense plus case in very god condtion ,with the film camera you have to think a bit more,good for my 70 year old brain 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted May 6, 2014 Share #15 Posted May 6, 2014 One more thing - take a look at all the ridiculous posturing and smoke-blowing that's going-on in the T-forum defending the software correction of the T lenses. In my opinion, there's something very satisfying about not needing to bend my beliefs in good solid craftsmanship in order to justify my hobby: I can use sturdy, handmade lenses on wonderfully long-lived cameras and embrace their virtues and faults for what they really are, without the interpolation of a software algorithm. 15 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton C Posted May 6, 2014 Share #16 Posted May 6, 2014 Doc, You are a man of taste. Vinyl played by way of vacuum amplification is not just an apt analogy, it should be a mandatory prescription for good living! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevesurf Posted May 6, 2014 Share #17 Posted May 6, 2014 One more thing - take a look at all the ridiculous posturing and smoke-blowing that's going-on in the T-forum defending the software correction of the T lenses. In my opinion, there's something very satisfying about not needing to bend my beliefs in good solid craftsmanship in order to justify my hobby: I can use sturdy, handmade lenses on wonderfully long-lived cameras and embrace their virtues and faults for what they really are, without the interpolation of a software algorithm. Well said; it really confused me with all that attention since most imaging manufacturers, including us, in the surveillance industry perform corrections to reduce distortion. What is ironic is the software algorithm I use most is to add grain, and emulate "legacy" film emulsions a feature we enjoy in this fine medium. What is interesting is that I never put my film camera away permanently, but had a few years in the late 2000s where I used digital more. Now I shoot color and B/W film equally as digital. I thoroughly enjoy experimenting with tones, contrast, colors and color shifts. The problem I have is that I am beginning to occupy a significant portion of the freezer 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
miatadan Posted May 7, 2014 Author Share #18 Posted May 7, 2014 ....and like Hi Fi for the sound with "vacuum" and vinyl record , picture with "soul and grain" [ATTACH]435289[/ATTACH] Best Henry I have McIntosh vacuum tube equipment and Rega RP3 turntable, so I can relate to this )))) Dan 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted May 7, 2014 Share #19 Posted May 7, 2014 (edited) Doc, You are a man of taste. Vinyl played by way of vacuum amplification is not just an apt analogy, it should be a mandatory prescription for good living! You're an expert Vinyl disk, it's soft, not aggressive versus CD Yes Brenton , life is too short not to enjoy what is beautiful I have McIntosh vacuum tube equipment and Rega RP3 turntable, so I can relate to this )))) Dan Dan, Mac Intosh vacuum good brand amplifier and Rega good record player You're an expert too ! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Thorens swiss-german made and SME american arm Moving coil Ortofon and Denon and for voice of Verdi Opéra i have Lowther Audiovector loudspeaker (english brand) kind of large washing machine,100 kgs each . Speaker made of paper (96 db 1W/1m) Best Henry Edited May 7, 2014 by Doc Henry 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Thorens swiss-german made and SME american arm Moving coil Ortofon and Denon and for voice of Verdi Opéra i have Lowther Audiovector loudspeaker (english brand) kind of large washing machine,100 kgs each . Speaker made of paper (96 db 1W/1m) Best Henry ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/226592-go-from-digital-and-back-to-film/?do=findComment&comment=2584913'>More sharing options...
masjah Posted May 7, 2014 Share #20 Posted May 7, 2014 SME is as British as they come!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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